Bell-operating mechanism for blast-furnaces.



A. G. McKEE.

BELL OPERATING MECHANISM FOR BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2], 1916.

1,288,948. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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A. G. McKEE.

BELL OPERATING MECHANISM FOR BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1916.

1,288,948. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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am oremmc MECHANISM ron BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21.1916. 1,288,948, Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- A. G. McKEE. BELL OPERATING MECHANISM FOR BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21.19%6.

Patented Dec. 24,1918.

1,288,948 4 SHEET s EET ARTHUR G. MGKEE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BELL-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR BLAST-FURNACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 27, 1916. Serial No. 100,372.

charging-devices and particularly to that class of the latter which includes two hopper controlling co-axial bells.

The broad object of the invention is to provide a construction in the above-described class of charging apparatus, where-- by after any dislocation of the parts, due to settling of foundations or otherwise, it maybe readily and economically corrected or compensated for and a continued uniformity of distribution of the charge be thus secured.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims. 4

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the upper part of a blast furnace charging apparatus of the above-mentioned type, together with the top of the blast furnace itself, to which my invention has been applied, such blast furnace top and the hoppers, as well as other parts, being shown in vertical axial section.

Fig. 2 represents a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a side elevation, upon an enlarged scale, of the actuating mechanlsm,

showing the parts in a different position from that which they are shown as occupying in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a plan of such actuating mechanism upon an enlarged scale.

j Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4 and on a similar scale. I Fig. 6 represents a vertical sectlon taken upon the plane indicated by a line VI-VI in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 represents a vertical section taken upon the planes indicated by lines VIIVII in Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 8 represents a horizontal section taken upon the plane indicated by line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 9 represents a section taken upon the plane indicated by line IXIX in Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction'indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 10 represents a vertical section taken upon the plane indicated by the line XX in Fig. 5.

The type of blast furnace charging apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings and to which the illustrated embodiment of my invention is shown to be applied, is of well-known construction and previouslypatented by me.

In this type of apparatus, the upper part or top of the blast furnace l is provided with a cylindrical hopper 2 whose lower and discharging opening 3 is closed by a conical bell 4 suspended from a rod 5.

Mounted upon the top of this hopper 2 is a second hopper 6 vertically co-axial with the hopper 2 whose lower or discharging opening 7 is closed by a smaller and co-axial bell 8 suspended from a hollow rod 9 through whose interior the rod 5 extends up plates first, the even distribution of the successive constituent parts of the charge in the hopper 2 through the medium of the hopper 6 and then the even distribution of the accumulation of the different parts of the charge in the said hopper 2 in the blast furnace, all as is also well known to those skilled in the art. However, to efi'ect this desired result, it will be seen that it will be necessary to always maintain co-axiality between the hoppers 2 and 6 and the bells l and 8, so that when these bells are lowered away from their respective openings, a true annular Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

such uniformity of distribution, in consequence, is not obtained.

- In order, therefore, to provide suitable, mechanism for actuating these bells to open and close, as may be required, and at the same time to permit of a ready re-alinement orrestoration of co-axiali-ty or these bells and their respective hoppers, I have provided a peculiar construction and arrangement of parts. which I shall now proceed to describe' 1 r The superstructure 10' supports a platform 13 in the usual "manner. Mounted upon this platform is a frame-structure l t s iown in detail in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6,7 and 10 respectively. This frame-structure coni-' prises a lower plate 15 which is preferably secured to the platform by means of suitable nuts and bolts (not shown). Resting upon and suitably secured to this plate are two I-beains 16-, 16, Figs. 4, 6, 7 and 10, t'o'which are secured upright members 17. These upright members carry two I-beams 19 parallel with the I-bcam' 16 which latter are placed so as to extend, as shown, in a direction. perpendicular to a verticaltransverse plane passing-through the axis ofthe hoppers. Resting directly upon the lower I-beam 16- is a cylinder 20 having secured thereto suitable guides 21 for a cross-head 22 This cross-head has attached thereto a piston rod 23 which is connected in, the

usual manner with a piston (not shown).

Supported byand suitably secured to the,

upper I-beams 19 is a second but smaller cylinder 24: also provided with guides 25 which receive a cross-head 26 attached to a piston rod27 connected with a suitable pisfor properly bracing and otherwise strength ening this frame-structure.

- These two' cylinders, it will be observed,

are both located upon the same side, the

right side as shown Fig. 1, otsaid plane. Secured to; said "frame-structure and formin'ga part thereof, are two standards,

28 formed with suitable bearings for rc ceiving an axle 29 upon WlllClTlS mounted a bell-crank 30 having two upper arms 31 and a single lower arm connected with cross-head '26 by means '01" aconnecting-rod '31. The'tw'o arms'31 are respectively connected with two depending rods 33 whose lower ends are secured tov a hollow suspends rod 9 by means of a suitable coupling 34;, to whose lower end is attached the bell 8, as clearly shown in Figs, 1 and 6. A suitable counterweight 35 is secured to the bellcrank 30, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Suitable valves and steam connections (not shown) are provided for actuating the piston-in the cylinder 24-, whereby the bellcrank may be oscillated and the bell 8 raised orlowered as may bedesired, all will be readily understood by those skilled in'theart. 7

As shown, the frame-structure extend s beyond the aforementioned plane, and upon that part of such structure extending there is mounted in suitable bearings, an

axle 36 to which is fixed'a second bell-crank i 37 having an upper arm 38 and alower arm 39. This lower arm is connected with a connecting rod- 10 connected with the cross head 22. The upper arm is-connected withthe upper end. of a link ll whose lower end is connected with one end of two link bars 42 whose other ends have a fixed axis upon a suitable part of the frame-structure such as an I-beam 18, asshown in Figs. 3 and These link arms are made of the same length as the arm 38 01"- the belLcrank,

and from the middle of the link 11 are .sus-

pended two downwardly extending suspen sion bars 44 whose lower ends are attached to cross-head t5,*the latter acting as a guide for the bars 33, asshown in Fig. 6. I Secured to the cross-head isthe upper end ofthe pre-q viou'sly mentioned suspending rod 5 whose seen, that it provides what is known as parallel-motion so that the upper ends of the bars 44: travel substantially in a right line. A suitable counterwei ht 46 is secured to the bell-crank 37.

Suitable valves and steam connections are provided for the cylinder 20 as in the case of the cylinder '24, s that the bell 4 may be, in consequence, raised and lowered when desired and independently of the bell 8. 7

From the above description, it will be seen that the means actuating, that is, raising or lowering the bells, include two suspending members, one for each bell, two

motormembers' and means connecting the latter with such suspending members. The" hollow rod 9 and the suspending rods 33,1 constitute the suspending member. forithe bell 8, whereas the rod 5, together withthe' bars-e4 and c'ross head 45, form'the. suspending member i'or'the hell 4'. i The bell cranksand the parts immediately connected therew1tl1,-cons' t1tu te the means for connect mg the motor members or cylinders with the suspending members. It will also further be noted that all of these described means are mounted upon a common support or frame-structure and it will therefore be seen that a shifting of the position of this framestructure will also effect a shifting of the position of all of these named parts.

The hoppers 2 and 6 being fixed with relation to each other, any dislocation of the superstructure and hence the parts connected therewith, including the points from which the bells are suspended, which may occur with reference to one hopper, will also occur with reference to the other. As a result, as the bells open, they would assume a position eccentric with reference to the openings in the respective hoppers. In the event, therefore, that such dislocation should take place, and the co-aXiality of the bells and hoppers destroyed, it will be seen that by disconnecting the frame-structure from the platform 13, such frame-structure, together with all the parts, may be shifted into a new position and one which will reestablish such co-axiality, after which the frame-structure is again suitably secured to the platform.

In this manner, therefore, it will be seen that the required correction may be readily and economically efiected so as to reestablish a uniform action of the bells in so far as it relates to the distribution of the charge previously referred to.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In bell-operating mechanism for blast furnace charging devices, the combination of a furnace top; a pair of hoppers mounted thereon; hopper controlling bells; separate means for raising and lowering said bells including suspending members, two motor members, and means connecting the latter with said suspending members and including a parallel motion; and a framework mounted upon said furnace top, horizontally adjustable relatively thereto, and supporting both of said raising and lowering means.

2. In bell-operating mechanism for blast furnace charging devices, the combination of a furnace top; a pair of hoppers mounted thereon; hopper controlling bells; separate means for raising and lowering said bells including suspending members, two motor members disposed in planes perpendicular to the plane containing the axis of said hoppers, and means connecting the motor members with said suspending members and including a parallel motion; and an adjustable framework mounted upon said furnace top for supporting said raising and lowering means.

3. In bell-operating mechanism for blast furnace charging devices, the combination with a furnace top; of a superstructure mounted thereon, a hopper and a hopper controlling bell, means for raising and lowering said bell including a suspending member, a motor member and means connecting the latter with said suspending member, and a common frame structure adjustably mounted upon said superstructure and upon which said motor member, connecting means, and suspending member are all mounted, said motor member being offset with relation to said suspending member. 1 I. In bell-operating mechanism for blast furnace charging devices, the combination with a furnace top; of a superstructure mounted thereon, a pair of hoppers mounted upon said top, hopper controlling bells, separate means for raising and lowering said bells including suspending members, motor members and means respectively connecting the same with said suspending members, and a common frame structure adjustably mounted upon said superstructure and upon which said motor members, connecting means, and suspending members are all mounted, said motor members being ofiset with relation to said suspending members.

5. In bell-operating mechanism for blast furnace charging devices, the combination of a suitable main support; a frame structure mounted thereon; two hoppers and hopper controlling bells; two suspending members respectively connected with the latter; two cylinders with pistons, piston-rods, guides, cross-heads and connecting rods therefor, all mounted upon said frame structure; bellcranks mounted upon said frame structure, connected with said piston rods, respectively, and located, respectively, upon the two sides of a plane passing through the axis of said hoppers; and means connecting said bellcranks with said suspending members, respectively.

6. In bell-operating mechanism for blast furnace charging devices, the combination of a suitably mounted support; a frame struc ture mounted thereon; two hoppers and hopper controlling bells; two suspending members respectively connected with the latter; two cylinders with pistons, piston rods, guides, cross-head and connecting rods therefor, all mounted upon said frame structure; bell cranks mounted upon said frame structure, connected with said piston rods, respectively, and located, respectively, upon the two sides of a plane passing through the aXiS of said hoppers; and means including a parallel motion connecting said bell cranks with said suspending members, respectively. 7. In bell-operating mechanism for blast furnace charging devices, the combination of a suitably mounted support; a frame structure adjustably mounted thereon; two hoppers and hopper controlling bells; two suspending members respectively connected with the latter; two cylinders with pistons,

&

piston rods, guides crossheads and connecting'rods therefor, all mounted upon said frame structure; bell cranks mounted upon said frame structure, connected with said piston rods, respectively, and located, respectively, upon the tWo sides of a plane passing through the axis of said hoppers; and means connecting said bell cranks With said suspending members, respectively.

' 8. In bell-operating mechanisnrfor blastfurnace charging-devices, thecombin'ation of a suitable main support; a frame-structure mounted upon and suitably secured to the latter; two hopper controlling bells; tWo suspending members respectively, connected Withthe latter; two hoppers and horizontal cylinders With pistons, piston-rods, guides, cross-heads and connecting-rods therefor, all mounted upon said frame-structure, the one cylinder being mounted above the other; a bell-crank mounted upon said frame-structure connected With one of said piston-rods and located upon one side of a plane passing through the axis. of said hoppers and perpendicular to the direction of movement of said pistons; a second bell-crank located upon the other side of said plane and con the latter; two hopper controlling bells; two

suspending members respectively connected with the latter; two hoppers and horizontal cylinders With pistons, piston-rods, guides, cross-heads and connecting-rods therefor,- all mounted upon said frame-structure,'the one cylinder being mounted upon the other; a bell-crank mounted upon said frame structure connected with one of said piston-rods and located upon one side of a plane passing through the axis of said hoppers and perpen= dicu'lar to the direction of movement of said pistons; a second bell-crank located upon the other side of said plane and connected to. the other of said piston rods; and means connecting said bell-cranks With said suspending-members respectively, also mounted upon said frame-structure. Signed by me this 17th day of May, 1915,

ARTHUR G. MCKEE.

Copies of this. patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

